Gempō Yamamoto
Gempō Yamamoto in 1923
TitleRoshi
Personal
Born1866
Wakayama, Japan
Died1961
ReligionZen Buddhism
NationalityJapanese
SchoolRinzai
Senior posting
SuccessorNakagawa Soen, Nakajima Genjo

Gempō Yamamoto (山本玄峰, Yamamoto Genpō, 1866-1961) was the abbot of both Ryūtaku-ji and Shoin-ji in Japan—also serving temporarily as the head of the Myōshin-ji branch of Rinzai Zen Buddhism.[1]

Biography

A renowned Japanese calligrapher, Yamamoto was a Rinzai Zen Buddhist priest who followed in the footsteps of the famous Master Hakuin Ekaku. According to the book Zen and the Art of Calligraphy, Yamamoto is sometimes called the "twentieth century Hakuin."[2] Like so many prolific Zen masters throughout the ages, Yamamoto had no formal education. By today's standards Gempō would be deemed legally blind, and it was not until later in life that he was able to write and read. At the age of 25 he became ordained as a monk, travelling during this period to various temples throughout Japan. Yamamoto is probably most remembered for his many zenga paintings, which can be found hanging at Ryūtaku-ji today.

He also produced a number of Inuyama ware.[3][4]

In 1934, he testified in favor of his disciple Nissho Inoue, a militant Nichirenist preacher, during the trial for the League of Blood assassinations. He remained close to Inoue until Inoue's death in 1961.[5]

Bibliography

  • Gempō Yamamoto, 慧開, Ekaku (1962).Mumonkan teishō: fu, Hakuin Zenji rōhachi jishū teishō. Daihōrinkaku.

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Victoria, 3
  2. ↑ Terayama, et al.; 113
  3. ↑ "山本玄峰老師の書画入りの犬山焼" (in Chinese). Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  4. ↑ "【骨董】犬山焼 山本玄峰老師画賛菓子器ｋ | ヒヨシエンタープライズ | 骨董販売/買取 発掘堂". Archived from the original on 11 October 2016. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
  5. ↑ Zen terror, Brian Victoria, 10 July 2019, Aeon. Quotes from Asahi Shimbun, 15 September 1934.

References

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